POIRIER WINS THIRD CANADIAN SPRINT CAR NATIONALS TITLE

Photo Credits - Dale Calnan/www.ImageFactor.ca

by Tommy Goudge (September 15, 2012) - Steve Poirier of
Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec became the first driver to win three
Canadian Sprint Car Nationals A-Features on Saturday night in the 8th
annual edition of Ohsweken Speedway's signature event. Poirier led 32 of
35 laps in the feature to earn the $12,000 prize, while 2-time Nationals
winner Shane Stewart settled for second, and 2011 Ohsweken Speedway
track champion Jim Huppunen took third.

Jeff Cook and Steve Poirier made up the front row for the A-Feature, but
were moved back to the second row after a false start, allowing Shawn
Donath and Glenn Styres to start up front. Poirier didn't let that
setback get in his way, as he took the lead after a brief joust with
Donath. Dustin Daggett looked to be on a mission, as he moved around
both Stewart and Donath into second place on lap 6, and gave chase to
Poirier while Donath and then Stewart went off track momentarily before
Thomas Kennedy spun in turn 2 to bring out a caution flag on lap 9.

Daggett had just one lapped car between himself and the leader when the
race restarted, but Poirier streaked away until traffic became a factor.
Poirier missed his mark entering turn 3 on lap 15, allowing Daggett to
take over out front, but Daggett himself got crossed up in the same spot
on lap 18, and Poirier went back out front for good. Daggett slid back
to 5th by the end of the race, while Stewart and Jim Huppunen tried to
chase down Poirier. Huppunen had moved up from row 5, and was ahead of
Stewart several times as the race wound down, but could not get by.

The rest of the field had a final chance to chase Poirier down when Ryan
Grubaugh spun to bring out a caution on lap 31, setting up a 4 lap dash
to the finish. Poirier had 4 lapped machines between himself and Stewart
when the race restarted, and cruised to the win while Stewart and
Huppunen again raced side-by-side for second, with Stewart prevailing.
Huppunen, Hebing, and Daggett rounded out the top 5, while Jessica
Zemken, Bryan Howland, Shawn Donath, Jeff Cook, and Jamie Collard
finished in the top 10.

Poirier made sure to thank crew chief Kevin Loveys, a former weekly
racer at Ohsweken, for helping him to get back to victory lane at
Ohsweken after a tough season which saw him miss several races due to
injury.

"I would exchange many wins this year for that one," said Poirier after
the race. "It looked like our season was going the wrong way with my
knee injury. Not too much luck on our side, but tonight all night luck
was on our side. The car was super good - thanks to Kevin (Loveys). I
know he wanted that trophy pretty bad because he lives around here, so
I'm really happy for him, and for my team to win that three times. This
track has been so good to me. We always do good here, but the
competition is getting tougher and tougher. It's even better than the
first two wins we had here."

Stewart was also trying to win the Nationals for the third time in his
career, but came up just a bit short this time.

"(Poirier) drove a great race, and had a great race car," Stewart said
afterwards. "We were just second place tonight, and we actually almost
finished third. I could see (Huppunen) sneaking around the bottom, but I
just can't thank Joe and Tim and Cindy enough. They worked really hard
to put together a really good team and program, and it's always fun to
come race for them. It's good to see all the fans out here. I know it's
a little chilly out, but it was a good race. They did a great job
preparing the race track."

Huppunen improved on his 10th place finish in 2011 by getting to the
podium this year, but couldn't help but wonder if he could have done
even better.

"This track was what I wanted," Huppunen said of the slick conditions in
the feature. "I almost got Shane there at the end. I blew it into (turn)
one and I missed my mark, and I cursed myself going around that last
lap, but all in all, wow that was fun!"

76 drivers from 3 Canadian provinces, 8 American states, and New Zealand
attempted to qualify for the 2012 edition of the Nationals on Saturday
night. Chris Steele ran the fastest time overall in group time trials,
collecting the Lane Automotive Top Qualifier Award, along with the
Bicknell Racing Products Top Canadian Qualifier award, and setting a new
360 Sprint Car time trial track record at 13.308 seconds. Kyle Sauder
and his crew were awarded $300 for the Corr/Pak Merchandising “Bill Peer
Memorial” Best Appearing Car honours, and Lee Ladouceur recieved a $200
bonus from Brighton Speedway as the highest finishing driver from the
Southern Ontario Sprints.

Heat races went to Glenn Styres, Steve Poirier, Shane Stewart, Dustin
Daggett, and Jeff Cook, while the B-Mains were claimed by Todd Hoddick,
Michael Parent, and Dylan Swiernik, and Randy Hannagan and his crew
changed engines in time to win the "Little Feature" and the final
A-Feature starting position after starting deep in the field.

The Ohsweken Shootout and Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge
were also contested on Saturday, after being rained out on Friday. Chuck
Hebing took the win in the Ohsweken Shootout, while Randy Hannagan won
the Dave McLeod Memorial Mr. Sprint Car Challenge.

Ohsweken Speedway wishes to thank all of the sponsors responsible for
making this weekend’s event a big success, including Bell Helmets,
Electromotive Engine Controls, Klotz Synthetic Lubricants, Best Western
Cairn Croft Hotel, BS&B Radiator, Wiseco Piston, Diversified Machine
Incorporated, King Racing, Rod End Supply, Pancho’s Racing Products, XYZ
Machining Inc., Rocket Headers, Manton Pushrods, ISC Racer’s Tape, J&J
Auto Racing, Hoosier Tire, Kinser Air Filters, Keizer Aluminum Wheels,
KSE Racing Products, Awesome Racewear, Hepfner Racing Products, Saldana
Racing, Zemco Speed Equipment, Winters Performance, Seals-It, BMRS, and
Slade Shock Technology.

MOD-LITE STARS CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR NORTH
Derek Wagner continued his domination of the Mod-Lite visits to Ohsweken
in 2012 by leading all but the first lap in the A-Feature. Paul Klager
was close to getting by Wagner several times, but settled for the
runner-up spot, followed by Jason Corless, Kory Howe, and Jeff May.

NEXT UP AT OHSWEKEN
The annual Ohsweken Speedway awards banquet will be held on Friday,
November 16 at Carmen's Banquet Hall in Hamilton, Ontario. Please visit
www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information.